Being within a mile of Whole Foods or Trader Joe's will make your house more valuable

[bananas]

Source: Business Insider

<snip>

"Zillow found that homes grow more rapidly in value if they are closer to a Trader Joe's or Whole Foods," the company said in a release.

"Between 1997 and 2014, homes near the two grocery chains were consistently worth more than the median U.S. home. By the end of 2014, homes within a mile of either store were worth more than twice as much as the median home in the rest of the country."

<snip>

"Like a self-fulfilling prophecy, the stores may actually drive home prices," Humphries said. "Even if they open in neighborhoods where home prices have lagged those in the wider city, they start to outperform the city overall once the stores arrive."

For example, the analysis found that 2 years after a new Trader Joe's opened home values within one mile went up by 10 percentage points more than homes in the rest of the city.

"It says something about the way people want to live – in the type of neighborhood favored by the generations buying homes now," Rascoff said.

"Today's homebuyers seek things in neighborhoods that weren't even in real estate agents' vocabularies a generation ago: walkability, community, new urbanism – and maybe we should add words like sustainable seafood and organic pears."

<snip>

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/whole-foods-trader-joes-good-for-home-value-2016-1

[Proserpina]

1. And to think, I would pay good money to be as far away as possible

[bananas]

2. Zillow: Homes near Starbucks, Trader Joe's are hot

http://www.wtsp.com/story/news/2016/01/25/zillow-homes-near-starbucks-trader-joes-hot/79311872/

Zillow: Homes near Starbucks, Trader Joe's are hot
CBS, wtsp.com 3:27 p.m. EST January 25, 2016

<snip>

In general, home values have increased about 70 percent year over year in the last 17 years, but those near a Starbucks were up about 100 percent in the same period. Rascoff advised future buyers to look for homes near Whole Foods or Trader Joe's locations, where values were up highest topping 140 percent - twice that of the normal American home.

<snip>

[Person 2713]

3. My son stayed overnight at a school mates home. When I picked him up I said "their place is nice,

and a nice location there is a big park and they can walk to Whole Foods!" So I am the kind of boob who is defining things like this in real estate I guess.
I have no idea if the family we visited considered either their location to the park or WF when buying a home

[Iris]

51. It could be WF and Starbucks considered the demographics before putting their stores there

[NRaleighLiberal]

4. 5 miles to get to any store of any kind for us. which is just fine!

Could do without Whole Foods, but not Trader Joe - great products at great prices. Between the farmers market and Trader Joe, that's all of our grocery shopping.

[csziggy]

43. I can almost say that - except for the historic country store that is only two miles away

It's been there since 1927 and is on the National Historic Register.

When we first moved here in 1978 they still sold mule collars for the farmers who use mules to plow their home gardens. Now they have a collar on the wall but no longer stock various sizes so the farmers can fit their mules - of course few if any of those old folks are still around.

Bradleys is known nationally for their smoked sausage. They buy locally grown pigs and do the butchering, processing and smoking right there next to the store. One the saddest days for me was when I realized that my sensitivity to peppers won't let me eat their smoked sausage any more.

http://www.bradleyscountrystore.com/index.php?route=common/home

[Renew Deal]

5. That's good for business

[jalan48]

6. Or as it is referred to by some of my friends, 'Whole Paycheck'.

[kentauros]

16. It's referred to by many on DU, too.

However, every single time I've brought up the fact that there are some brands I can get for less at Whole Foods than at other stores, that tidbit is pretty well ignored. It doesn't help further the hating paradigm.

No single grocery store has everything I need. And thus why I'm now looking at some baking ingredients from King Arthur Flour online because I can't walk into any grocery and buy a one-pound bag of SAF-brand yeast.

[jalan48]

17. Hey-I go there sometimes. It's just not for everyone.

They have a great food bar, albeit a bit spendy. I like it better than Safeway any day.

[kentauros]

19. I go to WF for some non-food items mostly,

as well as some of the processed vegetarian items I like. They have more variety that way than my local Kroger, but they're also about five miles away, versus 1.5 for Kroger. Plus, Kroger is 24-hr which is a big plus to me

Of course, I'd rather shop at HEB for 'normal' groceries, but their stores are even further away than WF. I still haven't figured out why they haven't built one in my neighborhood...

[jalan48]

21. We're lucky to have several local health food stores that have been here since the 70's.

[enlightenment]

22. I've never liked them because they smell.

The fish section absolutely reeks - which I don't think it should, if the fish is fresh. Given that the fish section is right next to the fruits and veg, it puts me off the produce as well.

As far as the SAF-brand yeast - you may be shocked (perhaps appalled) to here where I bought my one-pound bag. Walmart. (I was very surprised to see it there).

[kentauros]

32. Every place I've ever been with a fish market smells.

Maybe WF just doesn't have good ventilation there, I don't know.

As for the yeast, thanks for the tip. I hate shopping at Wal-Mart. Too many people, aisles too crowded with pallets of stuff, and so forth. That's one reason I like my 24-hr Kroger: I can shop when the employees outnumber the customers

[enlightenment]

34. Feel the same about Walmart.

Or any other crowded place, really.

I'm super picky about the freshness of fish, so perhaps hyper-aware of the smell. Regardless of why, it takes WF off my "go" list unless it is something I cannot find elsewhere. We have Sprouts (formerly Sunflower) markets here, which are well-stocked, well-run, clean, and reasonably priced. I don't feel any loss by avoiding WF.

[LanternWaste]

36. Read otherwise, "statistical aberrations are dismissed in favor of statistical norms"

"that tidbit is pretty well ignored. It doesn't help further the hating paradigm..."

Read otherwise, "statistical aberrations (until shown otherwise) and anecdotal evidence are dismissed in favor of the statistical norm."

Which, while more accurate, certainly doesn't allow the creative implication of martyrdom to illustrate itself.

[kentauros]

49. I believe I said that.

In fewer words

[Babel_17]

37. Yes, some items are cheaper than the prices at all the supermarkets I go to

Organic Valley Cream, even when compared to the Stonyfield "step-sister" brand (they both are part of CROPP*), is cheaper at the Whole Foods by me.

Ditto that, and by a lot of money, for Kerry Gold butter and cheese. The Pete and Gerry Jumbo eggs they carry are cheaper than even the extra large ones the super markets carry. Their frozen (non-organic) vegetables are always a good deal.

They carry an off label brand of Tuna (the regular label is American Tuna Company**) from Alaskan fishers that is a real deal, cheaper than Amazon even. They get some great powdered chocolate from France that's very reasonable. It's Dutch processeded/alkalized, so a bit less nutritional value, but as a treat who really cares that much?

But I smile at their prices for some of their herbals, and powdered nutritional supplements. Amazon Prime ftw with those.

*http://www.cornucopia.org/dairysurvey/index.html

**http://americantuna.com/about/

http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/oceans/tuna-guide/

"American Tuna is a San Diego-based company created by six pole and line fishing families. The company offers products under its flagship brand, American Tuna and its Pole & Line brand in Whole Foods Markets, specialty markets, and food service providers across the country. Though a smaller brand, American Tuna is well-known by US eco-conscious shoppers. American Tuna takes its commitment beyond just ensuring ocean safe tuna by including organic ingredients to compliment the tuna, reducing waste by providing albacore offcuts to other fisheries for bait, and ensuring products are packaged in BPA-free cans."

Though it's flagship brand is canned in the USA, at the only tuna cannery left in the USA afaik, while the Pole & Line brand tuna is canned in Viet Nam.

[kentauros]

48. Usually when I'm buying herbals,

it's because I'm unwell, and I need it now. No sense in basically tripling the price just to get it overnighted to the next day from Amazon

I hope the tuna info is useful to others. I'm a vegetarian, which is another reason I use WF. Plus, more variety of the things I want to buy. Kroger and HEB may carry the most popular items of particular brands, but they don't cater to people like me, or not wholeheartedly. My local Kroger is a big store (one of their "Signature" stores as I recall) and yet the "natural" foods section comprises only a couple of aisles. The kosher section gets twice as much room because I live in an area with a large Jewish population. Vegetarians don't congregate in certain areas of town, or anywhere across the country for that matter.

[Babel_17]

50. It pays to stock up on a few things

I keep an eye out for deals, if I can get Cilantro extract for a cut rate I get some extra. I hate paying more because I need something now. Though I've done it in the past. I usually use Amazon but sometimes Lucky Vitamin is cheaper.

Amazon has good deals on flax seed, hemp seed, shredded coconut, and cocoa powder. I use Greens Today (vegetarian formula), and Lucky Vitamin has that cheaper than Amazon. Usually a lot cheaper. Though I just have to spend around fifty bucks so as to get the free shipping.

Ironically, the company that makes it is only a few miles from me. But it still gets shipped from wherever. As a matter of fact, several of nutrition/supplement companies have manufacturing by me. They're in a cluster just south of the Long Island Expressway, in Hauppauge.

I buy online when it's cheaper than local retail, not because of convenience. My brother-in-law gets free same day shipping in Manhattan, from Amazon, now. Sometimes the stuff he orders arrives in a few hours. It's wild how the stuff shows up at his apartment building's front desk, for all the tenants.

[kentauros]

54. Thanks for the info

I still have to retrain my mind to think of Amazon for food (as well as supplements/herbals.) It remains akin to a department store, which never had grocery sections.

And now, I'm off to my grocer for smoothie ingredients

[REP]

46. I buy yeast from Amazon

I buy it in 2-lb packs (regular, not instant) and 1-lb (gold). I also get Red Mill rye flours there; King Arthur's is good but their prices are high for the #s they sell (I bake all my breads).

KA's recipes are all pretty awesome. If you like white bread (my husband loves it), White's white can be made while in a coma and is consistently good (I use liquid milk not powdered).

[kentauros]

47. As much as I use Amazon

I completely forget that they also sell food items. My mind seems conditioned to think of them strictly for non-perishables, and cooking/baking equipment suppliers as the places for things like yeast and dough enhancers.

Two pounds is way too much for me. As I live alone, the one-pound will still last me a couple of years in my freezer. I think my last bag lasted over three years, but I can't check that for sure (no more bag.)

I know KA is expensive for some things, but I only buy things from them once a year or longer. Equipment doesn't wear out that fast

The last KA recipe I used was for gluten-free carrot cake, which I also made egg-free (a friend has an allergy to both eggs and gluten.) I used aquafaba to replace the eggs and it worked great, other than sticking to the bundt pan. I hate bundt pans! Next time I'll turn it into a layer cake.

[pnwmom]

7. They've got cause and effect mixed up. Those stores purposely locate in more upscale areas.

[bananas]

8. Like bees and flowers, cause and effect go both ways

Do bees make flowers grow, or do flowers make bees grow?
Both.

[nitpicker]

25. +1

Or areas that are under uppification- er, "redevelopment".

I remember when the Ballston VA Metrorail stop was surrounded by one-story places such as a cantina. The IHOP is almost the only recognizable remnant, probably still existing in part because the new uppie restaurants concentrate on lunchbunch and afterwork traffic.

[Iris]

52. +2

[radhika]

9. I read where real estate developers watch this trend, as well as Starbucks...

It's a cue to them that the area has started to 'gentrify'. It starts as low-income, then evolves to artists, finally higher-income families.

I believe the funneling of Charter School investment dollars into low-income neighborhoods plays much the same role. It is intended to make a neighborhood more palatable to middle-class families.

[wolfie001]

10. They pursue the wealthier customer

They know what zip codes to invest in, just like Karl Rove knows the make up of all the voting districts. Gee, I wonder what the home values are near a Tiffany's?

[HuckleB]

11. Correlation is not causation, etc...

When we moved into our house in 1999, there was no Whole Foods, no Trader Joe's, no New Season's (local equivalent chain to Whole Foods), anywhere nearby. Over the years housing prices have quadrupled and more. No one but people who make serious money can move into this part of town now. Oh, and eventually a Whole Foods, a Trader Joe's, and a New Season's, all popped up, all within 1/2 mile of my house. On top of that Kroger made a QFC into a quasi Whole Foods, and it's also within a 1/2 mile of my house.

Hmm.

[elmac]

12. In Michigan, where home prices dropped by about 70%

it would take a hell of a lot of Trader Joes just to reach the break even point.

[Divernan]

13. I'd love to be nearer to my Trader Joe's

It's about a 20 minute drive (one way) as long as I avoid rush hour traffic, which being retired, I can do. Weekends and evenings, the place is packed. I go mid-mornings, every couple of weeks and stock up on their frozen goodies.

[FailureToCommunicate]

14. We're kinda lucky...Whole Paycheck is closer but we go to Trader Joe's, almost as close.

What really helped home values nearby was new restaurants opening...because the town relaxed liquor laws (previously a 'dry' town)

[FLPanhandle]

15. Just checked google maps

I'm 111 miles from the nearest Whole Foods and 298 miles from the nearest Trader Joes.

Guess my house isn't too valuable.

[Goblor]

18. I drive

my SUV (A Titan Latte Patriot) in 4-wheel-drive (just to be safe) to the Trader Joe's about 7 miles away from my house (14 mile round trip, duh). So my SUV gets about 12 miles per gallon, but I figure I break even with my budget concerns with the low TJ prices, when considered, especially when you take into account their inexpensive wine! An added plus is their reusable bags are only a buck a piece so I can buy as many as I need since I always forget to bring my TJ bag stash from home (I hate it when they double bag paper bags, such a waste).

Oh, an our realtor says, despite being seven miles from a Trader Joe's and a mere 4 miles from a Whole Foods, the estimated price of our house has gone up! Yay for us!

[caraher]

20. Why do I suspect this analysis was inspired by South Park?

The role of Whole Foods was a thread running through much of the most recent season, beginning with "The City Part of Town"

[Bad Dog]

27. You beat me to it.

I was going to say exactly the same thing.

Over here all the MCs go to Waitrose so they don't have to mix with the rest of us.

[alfredo]

23. So living near a WF or TJ's raises your property taxes.

[YOHABLO]

24. They don't put WF or TJ's in low income areas. The household incomes can support a WF's or TJ's.

I think they have in back-assward.

[JI7]

26. Trader Joe's could do well if they opened up in some lower income areas

their prices are not too bad. and there are actually a lot of people who make the drive out to buy from locations. so they end up spending more when you take into account costs to get there.

whole foods just sucks with overpriced yuppie douchebags. i do like some of the desserts though so i don't even go there for healthy stuff.

[romanic]

29. They could...

but they would face backlash for "gentrification" and attracting "non-oppressed populations":

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/04/trader-joes-portland-oregon-_n_4722680.html

[olddots]

28. Zillo is sure a trend setter

go getter , on the scene ,cutting edge , market maker ......

[AngryAmish]

30. Stuff White People Like

[Herman4747]

31. I Wonder What Effect Nearby Walmarts Have On Home Prices. nt

[randr]

33. South Park addressed this very well this season

The presence of a Whole Food Market in South Park made the whole town so politically correct it destroyed the moral fabric of the whole community. Very pointed and hilarious series of episodes over the holidays.

[Dr. Strange]

39. I can't stand SodoSopa.

That's why I do all of my shopping in CtPa Town.

[randr]

40. Not sure what SodoSopa is

Where I live we believe that our quality of life is directly proportional to our distance from an Interstate highway which means our local Food stores are owned locally and we grow and eat a lot of our own food.

[Dr. Strange]

42. SodoSopa was the rebranding of "South of Downtown South Park".

The City Wok owner tried to get business back from SodoSopa by rebranding the city part of South Park as CtPa Town.

Funny season.

[randr]

55. Oh yeah now I remember

City Wok and City Sushi

[PasadenaTrudy]

35. We are surrounded

by TJ's and WFs, one of the perks to living where I do. Problem is, you have to park a block away to shop. I don't mind, I need the exercise

[Tommy_Carcetti]

38. And your neighbors more insufferable.

I'm about 7 miles from the nearest Whole Foods and 9 miles from the nearest Trader Joe's. I've been inside both of them and don't see the appeal of either of them as a regular shopping destination.

I'm less than a mile from the nearest Publix and wouldn't trade it for either of those places.

[ScreamingMeemie]

41. As a licensed appraiser, Zillow is a scourge on the housing market.

Sorry, but your location in relationship to those two stores is not going to make it into my report. Located near shopping? Yes. But that's it.

[NRaleighLiberal]

44. That a really interesting comment - thanks for posting it. What are your reasons?

I check Zillow just to get a ballpark - and in our area, the house sells prices are not too far off from the Zillow estimates. But we have a real estate agent friend who doesn't like or trust Zillow either. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

[llmart]

45. Someone once told me that......

Whole Foods and Trader Joes like to locate near universities/colleges. That's the case where I live. There's one of each right across the street from the university.

[Egnever]

53. Don't know about those two but..

I would pay more to live close to a Costco.

[romanic]

56. I'm lucky enough

to have one within 10 miles near where I live. Consequently I live in a high-traffic area but at least I can buy in bulk at the best store in the world.